2003 Isuzu Ascender Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Ascender years
- Fewer complaints than other years 3rd of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Isuzu Ascender. That ranks 3rd out of 7 Ascender model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (9 complaints, 26%), typically at around 31,480 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 2 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 35owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Isuzu Ascender problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 | 26% | 31,480 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 20% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 14% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 11% | 46,475 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 9% | 500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 6% | 9,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 6% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 6% | 11,367 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 6% | 57,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 3% | 34,800 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 3% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 3% | 19,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 3% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 3% | 65 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Isuzu Ascender recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles have a rear side closure latch that may not latch or unlatch due to corrosion caused by road splash, such as water and road salt. These vehicles were originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia.
Risk: If the door is not latched properly and it goes unnoticed, it may open while the vehicle is in motion. If an unbelted occupant fell out of the vehicle, personal injuries could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a seal along the lower part of the rocker panel to prevent intrusion of corrosive material, and inspect the rear side closure latches. Functional latches will be cleaned and lubricated. Non-functioning latches will be replaced. The recall began on february 24, 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, or isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
Exterior lighting:turn signal
Problem: On certain trucks and sport utility vehicles, the driver wishing to signal a turn by moving the directional signal lever, (up or down) may cause the front marker/turn lights and rear turn lights to flash in a manner similar to hazard warning, rather than flashing on the desired side only.
Risk: The driver may not be able to clearly signal their intentions to turn, change travel lanes, or potentially warn others of an impaired vehicle operating condition increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the suspect flasher modules with a new flasher module designed with sealed relays and more durable contact material inside of the relays free of charge. The recall began on august 4, 2005. Isuzu began mailing owner letters on august 4, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, isuzu at 1-800-255-6727, buick at 1-866-608-8080, and oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles have windshield wiper systems that will not turn on, cease operation while in use, fail to turn off/on by themselves (moisture sensitive wiper system), or have continuous windshield washer pump operation because the presence of water within the wiper modules can either cause a short circuit or can lead to the corrosion of components within the module.
Risk: Depending on the occurrence and weather situation, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will repair the windshield wiper system assembly. The recall began on july 15, 2004. Owners should contact isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
Equipment:other:owners/service/other manual
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage system." the owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the lower universal anchorage system.
Risk: This does not comply with the standard.
Fix: Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. It describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle. Owner notification began august 15, 2003. Owners should contact isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, "theft protection." these vehicles are equipped with a mechanical override that could allow the ignition key to be removed with the shift lever in a position other than park. In addition, these vehicles have an override that can allow the transmission to be shifted out of park with the ignition in the off position.
Risk: These overrides are not permitted unless the vehicle has a locking steering column.
Fix: Dealers will eliminate these conditions by disabling the overrides. Owner notification began june 13, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Loss of Headlights (RQ17002) — opened Apr 24, 2017, closed Mar 29, 2021.
- Fuel pump module leaks gasoline (EA07009) — opened Jul 10, 2007, closed Aug 28, 2008.
- Windshield wiper failure (EA04002) — opened Jan 6, 2004, closed Feb 10, 2004, led to recall 04V046000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 isuzu ascender. The contact stated that upon inspection, it was found that the brake line was perforated due to rust. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where the failure was confirmed. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed…
Service bulletin or recall 2003 isuzu ascender. Problem key stuck in the ignition can not remove seems to be normal problem for this make and model . L have been reading through forum complaints on the internet. I am curious if there has been a recall and if not why not. Car could be car jack or…
Power steering lines from the pump (high pressure and return lines) are corroding and now leaking. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 isuzu ascender. He stated that intermittently while driving 50 mph the "ses" and "check engine" warning light illuminated on the instrument panel, then the vehicle stalled. As a consequence, the risk for a vehicle crash was increased. The vehicle was towed to a dealer…
Heater/ac fan kept going out. Was told it was relay switch. After several replacements, was told it was a fault in the ignition. Ignition was replaced. Fan now works. Now headlights go out intermittently. Tech's can't figure out why. *tr
Other Isuzu Ascender years
← 2002 Ascender · 2004 Ascender →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Ascender | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 Ascender | 10 | 4 |
| 2006 Ascender | 32 | 6 |
| 2005 Ascender | 64 | 1 |
| 2004 Ascender | 64 | 1 |
| 2003 | 35 | 5 |
| 2002 Ascender | 0 | 0 |
See all Isuzu Ascender problems by year, every Isuzu model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Isuzu models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Isuzu Ascender?
Owners most often report electrical system, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 9 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Isuzu Ascender?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Isuzu Ascender a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Ascender model years, the 2003 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.